Rajasthan itinerary for 5 days: Things to do, budget-friendly heritage hotels, best places to eat

Exploring Rajasthan means transporting yourself to the yesteryears, full of history, culture, and colours. In terms of the area, Rajasthan is the largest state in India and unless you spend at least 20-25 days, just one trip can never do justice to what Rajasthan has on offer. But we cannot forget the time crunch people face these days while trying to plan a holiday due to their hectic schedules.

If you are looking to do a short trip to Rajasthan, say for five days, we have curated an itinerary for the same with multiple options for you to choose from.

Where to stay in Udaipur?

We stayed at a 3-star property, Hotel Amar Kothi. The boutique hotel gives you a sneak peek into Rajasthan’s heritage. We loved their food and will always remember the smiling faces of their staff. This is not a promotional post. We genuinely liked our stay there, and which is why we are recommending it. It is close to both Fateh Sagar and Lake Pichola. In fact, you can see Pichola from the hotel’s terrace.

Day 1:

• Since it is a short trip, try to reach Udaipur early in the morning. Talk to your hotel for an early check-in prior to your travel. Have breakfast and head to Maharana Kumbha Sangeet Parishad to watch Rajasthan’s famous folk dance and puppet show. It is an hour’s show. You can also watch it at Bagore Ki Haveli at Gangaur Ghat.

• Have lunch at Chappan Bhog, which is not very far from your next stop. We gorged on their Marwari Thali and since it was summer, the sweet dish in the Thali was Aamras and there you go, it completed my perfect picture of a Thali.

• Next stop, Udaipur City Palace. With Aravali Hills on the backdrop, City Palace stands magnificently on the banks of Lake Pichola. This is a must-visit for anyone who loves colours, history, and is a keen photographer. From the palace’s premises, there is a way to walk to the Jagdish Temple, another must-visit for its stunning architecture. It was built in 1651 under the reign of Maharana Jagat Singh. Just outside the temple, there is a market.

(Pro-Tip: Do your Udaipur shopping at this market as the next two days will go in exploring two stunning forts of Rajasthan.)

• End your day with a stunning sunset! At the City Palace, the price for Lake Pichola’s boating was around Rs. 800 per person. Instead of this, we went to Lake Pichola’s main point, where it cost us Rs. 180 per person. We were lucky to witness a gorgeous sunset while boating at Pichola.

Dinner at Atari rootop hotel. It is slightly up the hill, giving you beautiful views of the city.

Day 2:

• Leave as early as possible. A day trip to Kumbhalgarh Fort, which is around 84Kms away from Udaipur city and is called the ‘Great Wall of India.’ Extending around 36 Kms, it goes through valleys on the westerly range of the Aravalli Hills and has a striking resemblance to the Great Wall of China. Kumbhalgarh Fort is the second-most important fort after Chittorgarh in the Mewar region.

Kumbhalgarh has quite a bit climbing to do but is not impossible. Our parents (mum 63 and dad 70) reached the top of the fort without breaking a sweat. That should be your inspiration!

Lunch: Garh Kumbha restaurant

• In the evening, check out Saheliyo ki Bari, also known as the Garden of Maidens. Visiting it in the morning or afternoon will not be half as good as in the evening with lights on.

Saheliyon Ki Bari is a spectacular wonder of nature and its beauty is designed with the greatest care and perfection. The garden, situated on the banks of Fateh Sagar Lake, offers mesmerizing views of carved marble pavilions, kiosks in the pool, a lotus pond and rain fountains.

At the end of this day, you would have experienced a fine green retreat in the otherwise known dry lands of Rajasthan. Even the road from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh is lush green and very scenic.

Dinner at Khamma Ghani.

Day 3:

• Again, leave as early as possible. After breakfast, visit Ahar Cenotaphs. Go there only if you enjoy appreciating a great work of architecture. Ahar is famous for the cenotaphs of the rulers of Mewar. The site is also home to Gangu Kund, a pond which was constructed in the 17th century.

• From there, head directly to Chittorgarh Fort, one of the largest forts in India and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is around 120 Kms away from Udaipur City. You can reach all its main points by car.

Lunch: Gangour restaurant, near the fort. Amazing food. We tried traditional Rajasthani dry curry called Ker-Sangri, which is a combination of beans and berries.  

• Return to your hotel and relax. Head to Fateh Sagar Lake for sunset. We fell in love with it. Fateh Sagar is easily one of our favourite spots in Udaipur.

Dinner at Mewari Thali, which is less than 2 kms away from the lake.

OR

If you want to check out just one fort from Udaipur, we would suggest Kumbhalgarh and not Chittorgarh.

Here’s why: The drive to Kumbhalgarh is way more beautiful and pleasant. Cab’s cost is lesser. The views are better too. The weather gets much better as you climb up the fort in Kumbhalgarh.

Instead of Chittorgarh on Day 3, you can explore Ambrai, Gangaur, and Hanuman Ghats. And while at Gangaur Ghat, have a small bite and coffee at Jheel’s Ginger Coffee Bar & Bakery with views of Lake Pichola. Instead of watching the folk dance and puppet show on Day 1, do that on Day 3. Shop. Watch the sunset at Monsoon Palace. The last entry into the palace is at 5 pm.

Another great sunset option is at Karni Mata Temple, an ancient temple that is accessible by a ropeway or a walking trail of over 1,000 stairs. It offers a sweeping view of the city of Udaipur.

Either take an overnight train to Jaipur. Or fly the next day or go by car. Due to the time crunch, the train is the best option.

Day 4:

Where to stay in Jaipur?

We stayed at a 5-star properly, Welcom Traditional Haveli. The property goes back to 1940 when it was a private residence. Despite being a 5-star, we managed to get premium rooms at budget-friendly prices and their in-house restaurants were not very expensive too. The location is close to most of the tourist spots, including Hawa Mahal.

Spend the day exploring three forts and one architectural marvel.

• After breakfast, head to Nahargarh Fort, which is situated on the ridge of Aravali Hills. After more than half way up, you can spot the Jal Mahal from its viewpoints. The views are amazing. The fort was constructed during the reign of Jai Singh in 1,734 and was later expanded in 1868. Nahargarh Fort literally translates to ‘tiger fort’, and even today, leopard and other wild animals are spotted at night. So, people are advised to leave the premises by or before sunset.

• Next stop, Jaigarh Fort. Not a very large fort, but yet beautiful. It is located at a height of 500 feet above sea level and offers panoramic views of the surrounding. Spread over an area of just 3 Kms, Jaigarh was built to protect Jaipur’s iconic Amer Fort.  It also houses the world’s largest cannon on wheels called ‘Jaivana Cannon’.

Lunch: Rainbow Restaurant, near Jal Mahal, Amer Road.

• Fifth and final fort of the trip: Amer Fort, also called Amber Fort or Amber Palace. Ensure your driver shows you the Amer village properly en route the fort. First comes, Panna Meena ka Kund. India has around 2,000 ancient stepwells, out of which 100 are in Rajasthan. Many of these stepwells have now been protected and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), including the Jaipur stepwell.

Panna Meena ka Kund stepwell was built over 400 years ago and will take your breath away with its dazzling architecture and labyrinth-esque illusion of stairs.

Amer Fort is a wide-ranging palace complex that has been built with pale yellow and pink sandstone, and with white marble. The fort is divided into four main sections that have their own courtyards. The fort has a number of sections, including the King’s quarters, the zenana (where the women lived), gardens, temples, etc.

• Check out the Jal Mahal on your way back.

Day 6:

• Hawa Mahal opens at 9 am and to avoid a huge crowd, try and get there as early as possible.

• The City Palace and Jantar Mantar are within walking distance of Hawa Mahal. You’ll be done by lunch.

• Spend the rest of the day shopping at Bada Bazar, Bapu Bazar, and the market on Hawa Mahal Road, where we made most of our purchases.

• In the evening, check out the beautiful Patrika Gate just for its colours!

Just opposite Hawa Mahal, do visit Pandit di Kulfi. They claim they have been in business for 60-70 years. We loved their Malai Kulfi. Gulab di Chai is another small stall you must visit. Try Rajasthan’s famous kachori at Rawat Mishtan Bhandar.

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